Crowds revel beneath an inflatable monk tube man at a festival while a boy does dek weng stunts in a carousel. Hanuman is dressed for vacation with suitcase rolling in tow as a donation box in the background is visibly being skimmed from. An angry rooster in a Songkran shirt traps several characters in his amulet. These are the acrylic paintings of Thai artist Sarawut Panhnu, which mix comical pop-style art with a deep affection for traditional Thai styles. This newest series follows three animals around on their misadventures and was created for the Thai Netflix show The Believers, which is about scammers using the faith of others to get what they feel they deserve.

Panhnu started painting in this style during the pandemic as a way to talk about contemporary issues and personal experiences in his own unique way. The results are clearly his own vision, painted in a modern and individualistic manner. But they’re heavily inspired by the traditional Thai styles he grew up around, his favorite being the ancient folding manuscripts called samut khoi. “I’m fascinated by the intricate lines, personalized color palettes, and hidden symbolism found in traditional Thai artwork,” he explains. “It captures the essence of rural life and preserves cultural stories within its imagery.”

Earlier pieces in this style follow a similar format. In one, various yaksha, animals, and aliens enjoy a road trip. In another, a sloth takes vacationers to their destination in a flying khlong boat. Much of Panhnu’s work deals with the conflict and interaction of animals and humans in different settings and also the issue of societal collapse, but he creates a sense of wonder and imagination that leaves everything open for the viewers’ interpretation.